Lens-grinding apparatus



G. P. MILLER.

LENS GRINDING APPARATUS.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY I0, 1920.

1,406,407. Patented Feb.14, 1922.

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I a I z I Z y 54 1 Z145 I w J79 37 j .1 A 34 i Z3 1 3 4% A Av 35 If 16"\-||II| J 3 6 f 7 47 WW 5 76 J @3 i5 J6 glam-12m I I alibi/"44p e. P.MILLER. LENS GRlNDlN G APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, I920.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

amounted iZ/VZZZi/ \mmumummmmm duce variations in curvature.

GEORGE rEnLmr mrnnnn, or roxcnorr, M INE.

' "mus- INDING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 10, 1920. Serial no. 380L221,

To all whom it may concern 4 Be it known that I, GEORGE P. MILLER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Foxcroi't,'in the county ofPiscataquis and State of Maine, have invented a new and usefulLens-Grinding Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in grinding and polishingoptical lenses,

one of theobjeots of the invention being to 1 provide a rotating lenscarrying member for holding a lens in contact with a rotating lap, therebeing means for rotating'the lens carrying member so that the lensis rotated with or against the lap and at the same time given an oscillatingmot-ion whereby two curvatures can be imparted to the lenssimultaneously along axes at right angles to each other, one of thesecurves corresponding with that of the lap while the other curvecorresponds with the, arcotf movement of the ilensrset upby the rotationof the lens.

A further object is to provide simple means whereby the lens is free to'press 'yieldingly against the lap so asto automatically take-up weardue to the abrading action of the lap.

Another object is to'provide mechanism which is simple and compact, andwhich can be easily regulated so as to vary the arcuatemovement of thelens during the grinding and polishing '"jop'eratiom'. thereby to pro- Afurther object is to provide means whereby a cylindrical surface'can bepro;

duced on a fiat orplano lap, or on a concave or convex spherical lapbecause of the comblned rotary and oscillating motion set up, I

such ;motion being facilitated by the provision of a friction ringdesigned to engage the lap and to be rotated bycontact therewith,thereby to insure actuation of the lens along predetermined lines.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, whiclr'will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the; combination andarrangement of parts and" in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope ofwhat is claimed,

changes in the precise embodiment of the modified form 'n sm. g A v v 'Fgu're 13 is an elevatlon of another modi parting from the spirit of theinvention. i

ferred forms of shown.

. In said drawings- A a o Figure 1 is an elevation of thegrinding theinvention have been mechanism, the lap and the friction ringbeing shownin contact, said ring beingin sectionand the lap broken away.

t Figure 2 is an elevationof the lens carrymg device, the casing beingbroken away to show the interior mechanism in elevation.

the casing showing the interior mechanism in plan. I 1

Figure 4 is a section on line 47 4, Fig

ure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5, Figure 4, the'central tubular borebeing shown partly in elevation;

Figure 6 is a' perspectlve view of the" rocking element. r

I Figure 7 is a. plan view of a lens.

Figure 8 is a section on line '88, Figure7. A

Figure Figure 10 is a sectionalthrough a modified formof connectionbetween the rocker operating yoke and its drive mechanism.

Figure 11 is a section on'line 1l- '11, Fig- -urelO. A I F igure' '12'isan elevation of aspecial of rocker operating mechafied form of rockeroperating mechanism.

Referring to the figures by characters of referencel'designates a baseplate provided In the accompanying drawings the'p e' 9 is a'section online 9 9, Figure7. Y

. s pecification ofJQettersIatent. atent d F 192% A invention shown canbe made without Figure 3 isa transverse section through v with a centralcircular opening 2 and secured to this base plate is a bottom'plate 3. iI

The base plate 1 is cut away to providea bottom recess 4 covered by thebottom plate 3. A diaphragm 5 ofrubber or other suitable fiexiblematerial is secured at its-edges to the bottom plate? preferably bymeans of a ring 6 attached to the bottom plate by screws or the.likeextending through the edge-portion of the diaphragm. Screws?extendthrough the bottom plate and diaphragm and engage the base plate1,1these housiiig 13 and that face of the housing :1'einotefroni thebase plate 1 has a central screws being provided, at their outer ends,with balls 8 seated 1n sockets 9 formed w1thin blocks 10 which aresecured to a frict on ring 1L 13y means of the screws 7 this ring can beadjusted to any desired angle relative to the base plate 1 and can be adjusted toward or fronrthe base plate, there being openings 12 in theouter end portions of the screws '7 for the reception or pins or:

for fingers 4:1 projecting from a yoke 42, A rod ll connects thesefingers and is slid'ably ;engaged;.;.byablock 4:4 in which the cylinthelike whereby the screws can be rotated readily for ithe purposeofsecuringthe do sired ad ustment which regulates the thick-- ness ofthe finished lens and also the relative thickness of the edges of. thelensfithereby' maintaining the desired optical,center. r-

Secured to the baseplate 1 IS a cylnidrical opening- 14 from the edgeotwhich extends a circular flange 15 proj ecting into; the lionsing. Thisflange extends into one end of a tubular core l6the other. end ot whichbears upon the base plate 1, and has-a circular boss 17 which bears inthe opening 2and I is provided with a stem 18 hearing ina'n openingformed in the flniddleportion oi'ithe bottom plate 3. A small lug 19projects from the boss 17 and r is; adapted .to extend into a nut formedwithin a gear 2( which .is-inounted on the stem 18 andiwithimthe recess4, so as to rotate with the core/l6, as will be obvious.

v Xrranged withinthe core L6 are spaced cars 21 and projecting looselyinto;the-': c0re and through the opening lein the llOllSlIlg l3 is theusual stationary spindle;22 which in the present instance, has pointedend 23 projecting into conicalseata2 l in the; bottom of the core 16. Anear 25 extends ra V 1 opposed points are conical depress ons 750diallyirom the stem or spindle 22 andjp'rojects between the cars 21 sothat, when the housing 13 is rotated in the inannerlhereinafterdescribed, the core 16 willbe held against rotation by the stem 22althoughca- ,Spnings GO-Kare-j mounted "on the erode-and bear againstcollars 61, carriedbyJthe rods.

pable of rocking relative, thercto'. v

Secured upon the base plate lis a bearing frame 26 in which is journaledthenupper .end of a shaft 27,:tl1e lower end oi rwhich isjournaled inthebottom plate 3 and carries a gear 28 whicheonstantly meshes with thegear :20. Another gear 29 is. secured to the shaft 27 and projectsthrough an opening 30 in the base plate :1, this'z'gear 29. in turnmeshing with ageariBl securedto another shaft 32. Shattq32 is journaledat its lower end in the base plate l 'andat its'u'pper endlin thebracket 26 and has a disk33 secured to the upper portion-thereof andtheliousing lg This set scnew; 36 hasian "alongthe g1'*ooi e34". vBearing arnis 40 extend from the sides of thebrac'k'et 26and constituteside abutinents drical portion 38 of the set screw 36- is adapted torota-t6, thus to form a wrist pin. The free ends of the; yoke l2 carryrollers d5 wh'ich are niounted for] travel along cam trackstfijgtorinedby the: upper edges of e also eonnectedto the upstanding arn s eSuand749 of a rocker 'such as shown jo -Figure 6 these arms;bei'ngarranged at diametrically opposed portions of cealed between thediaphragmfe and the. loot c tom Y plate 3 .asshown particularly. inFigure 5.. .A disk h3 isarranged-on tllGOlltQlfnfgtCB lured tothe baseplate-1.

aplate- 50 and on'eof the arms,48, terminat ported outside of thehousing 13 and is con- .off thewdi-aphragni 1.5 ,and base centralthreaded opening 54. Thisgdisk is secured to the disk or; plateyiTiO byrivets or the-like ezitendingi through, the diaphragm 5, and the opening5st is adapted to receive; -threaded, 8138111 1 extending: from a disk56L to which a lens indicated atz'Lisadaptedtobecemented.

Formed in the plate; 150. at diametrically and projectingintothese-depressionsare the I pointed ends 57: 9f rods 581whi'chslidewithin the base; plateilna-nd also within sockets 59 ,forined in:the stop. of the housing 13.

Thus these springs serve t o hold the rods The-index-nr point iilprojects throu hia slot-62 in the housingaand is adaptetlito workvnormallygpressed;against'the disk or plate 5,0 andto maintain therollers l5 normally -in-contact ,;with the earnft-rargks-AG;

alonga dial GSXaI'rangedwithin-a housing a;

hereinafter described;

Asheretofore pointed out thel nechanisin r hereingdescribed is designedtor. in pro- .dnciiig- {either plane or torlc cylindrical surifaces troma \plano or ispherical,lapg The glass diskjto,be shaped into a lens is:ce-

mented to. the disk 56 which, in turn, is at,-

tachedzir to the; disk 53 This glass; disk thus ="li6 supported withinthe opening in the the usual manner.

ring 11 and will project beyond the flat, conbe obvious that as'the laprotates it will drag upon the rin 11 and cause said ring torotate'therewiti, the lap, at the same time, grinding the exposed faceof the glass disk L because the center of rotation of the lap is not inline with the center of rotation of the disk although said disk is beingrotated because of the frictional contact thereof and of the ring 11with the lap. As the stem 22 cannot rotate, the rotation of the ring 11and, consequently, the rotation of the housing '13 to which't he ring isattached, will result in the gear 28 rotating about the held gear 20.Thus motion will be transmitted'through the shaft 27 and gears 29 and 31to the shaft32 with the result that the disk 33 will be revolved andwill cause the. wrist pin 38 to impart a back and forth motion orreciprocation to the yoke 42. As

' the yoke reciprocates the rollers will travel along the cam rails 46and cause the arms 48 and 49 and theplate 50 to; rock with the points 57as fulcrums. The springs 60 will of course pressthe lens firmly againstthe lap so as to take up wear. The diaphragm -5 prevents theearborundumor other abrasive material used vfrom working up into the housing 13 andinjuring the mechanism.

The curvature of the rails 46 regulates the curvature of the lensproduced by the oscillating movement and where" a different curvature isto be used different brackets 17 can be employed. Likewise byfsh'iftingthe block 35 diametrically relative to the disk 33, the extent ofrocking movement can bevaried and this, likewise, will regulate thecurves produced by the oscillation. Instead of having rollers mounted oncam tracks, the yoke 42 can be connected to cams" 66 adapted to travelupon straight tracks 67 as shown in Figure 12, or, if preferred, the

yoke 42 can be attached to the ends of rockcrs 68 adapted tobear androck upon'the base plate 1 as shown in Figure 13.

Also, if preferred, instead of utilizing the wrist pin or set screw 36for the purpose of securing the block 35 in adjusted position,

the block, indicated at 69 in Figure 10 can have a lug or ear 70 engagedby an adjusting screw 71 swiveled at the ends of" the dovetailed groove72 so that, by the, insertion of a tool of suitable shape, the screw 71-can be rotated and the block 69 shifted longitudinally. lVith thisarrangement it is only necessary to provide an ordinary V wrist pin upontheblock 69 for engaging the part 44:.

tation of the lap.

- lVh-at is claimed is: 1. In lens grinding mechanism, a ring forengagement with a lap during the application of the lens to a lap, and alens oscillating or rockingdevice including meansoperated by the ringfor rocking said device relative to the ring. v f I r 2'. In lensgrinding mechanism, a ring for engagement with the rotating lap, a lensoscillating or rocking device including means actuatedv by the rotationof the ring for oscillating said device relative to the ring, andyielding means for pressing said device toward the lap during therotation of the lap. o l

3. Lens grinding apparatus for use on a rotating lap, said apparatusincluding means' for engaging a lens, a ring for engagingthe lap offcenter so as to be driven by the lap, mechanism operated by the ringduring'its rotation, for rocking said lens engaging means relative tothe lap, and yielding'means for pressing the lens engaging means towardthe lap. I; I

at. Lens grinding apparatus including a nonrevoluble spindle, a housingtiltable and revoluble relative to the spindle, means niovably carriedby the housing for engag' "ing a lens, a ring connected to and'revo;luble with the housing'for engagement with a lap to rotate the housing,and means operated bythe rotation of the housing relative to the spindlefor imparting a rocking move.-

mentto the lens engaging means transversely 11 of the axis ofv rotationof the ring.

6. Apparatus for grinding toric and cylindrical surfaces ona rotatinglap, comprising means for engaging andsupporting a lens, means engagingand actuated bythe lap for rotating the lens supporting means, andadjustable means operated by the lens support rotating means for rockingsaid lens supporting means across the "axis of ro l I 7. Mechanism forgrinding toric and cylindrical surfaces on a rotating lap, comprising anon-revolving spindle,"a housing mounted to tilt relative to and torotate about'the spindle, means connected to the housing for engagementwith and actuation by the lap to rotate'the housing, lens sup portingmeans rotatable with the housing,

' means operated by the rotation of thehous lens supportingmeanstransversely of the axis of rotation otthe housing, and yieldingmeans for pressing ,the 'lens supporting 1 q connection with 'arotatable lap, comprising means toward the lap to take up wear. upon thelens.

8. Lens grinding mechanism for. use in connection with a rotatinglap,-compris1ng a non-revolving spindle, a housing mounted for rotationrelative to theisplndle, means carried by the housing for engagementwith and actuation by the lap torotate the housing, lens engaging meansrevolublewlth the housing, adjustable means in the housing. and operatedby the rotation of thehousing,

relative to the spindle for oscillatingthe lens engaging. meanstransversely of the axis of rotation of the housing.

9. Lens grinding apparatus for engagement witlrand actuation by arotating lap, comprising astationary spindle, a housing mounted for.rotation relative thereto and tiltable relative to thespindle, meansmovably connected to but revoluble With the housing for attachment toa-lens, means revoluble with the housingsfor engagement with alap torotate the'housing, when said housing is tilted to any angle relative tothe spindle, and means operated by the rotation of the housing relativeto the spindle for rocking the lens engaging means across the axisofrotat-ion ofthe lap.

l0. Inlens grinding mechanism for use i with a rotatable lap, thecombinationwith a housing mounted for rotation and tiltable relative tothe lap .and stationary means projecting into and tiltable with thehousing but held against rotation therewith, of a ring'secured to androtatable with the housing for engagement with and actuation by the lapto rotate the housingymeans 'tiltably connected to the housing forattachment: to alens tosupport the lens. within the'ring in positionforcontactwith the lap, and

means operated by the rotation of the housv ing relative to thestationary means therein for rocking said tiltabliet lens carrying meansa ,j i

11. Lens: grinding apparatus for nee-m a rotatable housingtiltahlerelative to the aXisofrotation of the lap, a stationary "elementprojecting into the housing, a ring connected to the housing forengagement with and actuation by the lap torotate the lionstable withthe housing for supporting a lens within the ring, flexible sealingmeanszconmeeting said lens (supporting means to the housing, andadjustable means operated by the rotation oftherhousing-relative to saidstationary element for rocking the lens relativeto the housing and tothelap during the rotation of the housing. J

12. Lens grinding apparatu's for use with a rotatable lap, comprisingahousing mounted for rotation and tiltable relative to the axis ofrotation of the lap, a nonrotatahle element projecting into the housing,a lap 1ng.,means yieldingly connected to :and'rotaengaging ringadjustably connected to and revoluble with the housing, a plate outsideofthe housing, arms extending therefrom and into the housing, camswithin the housattachment to .a lens and for supporting the lenswithinthe ring, a yoke connected to the arms, adjustable means operated bythempressed awayfrom the housing, means: detachably connected tothe'plate for tation of the housing relative to the'nonr0- 3 tatableelement therein for actuating the yoke to' oseillate the arms relativeto the housing. a j i j p In. testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown, I have hereto afli-xed my signature in the presence of'twowitnesses;

- GEORGEPERLEY MILLER. v IlVitnesses; '5 v F. L. THoMsoN .7 B. VANVnorrrnn.

